FIFA Soccer 13 Review

FIFA Soccer 13 on the Vita is little more than a roster update and lacks many of the new features from its console siblings.

Where FIFA's first outing on the PlayStation Vita, simply titled FIFA Football, eschewed a numerical moniker, the latest version proudly slaps a 13 onto its name. And with that number comes a lot of expectation: the hope that this isn't just another weaker, slimmed-down port, but a true portable version of a console classic. Sadly, that isn't the case. FIFA Soccer 13 on the Vita not only lacks many of the excellent new features of its console counterpart, but it even lacks those of FIFA 12. What you get, then, is a game that's nigh on identical to last year's FIFA Football, complete with a match engine that's still trapped within the aging confines of the now three-year-old FIFA 11.

Beautiful goals like this are possible, so long as you don't use the touch screen.

That means you're limited to the same single-player modes that were in FIFA Football: Virtual Pro, where you create a player, selecting his age, play style, and position; and Career, where you can take your virtual player, or a real-life player, through a 15-year career. There's also the option to take up the role of a player manager, which lets you manage your team's lineup and tactics, as well as recruit new players during the transfer window. And if that's all a bit much for you, there's also a range of basic tournaments to play through, from the FA Cup through to custom leagues and knockout tournaments, as well as quick exhibition matches.

These are still fun modes, but the lack of development is jarring; there's simply nothing new for fans of the Vita version to sink their teeth into. The excellent EA Sports Football Club online mode, which keeps track of any experience points earned and ties them to a real-world team, is still missing. So too is the addictive Ultimate Team--FIFA's mix of role-playing-game-like card trading, Top Trumps, and football management--which is a massive disappointment. Trading cards with others on the go, or even just managing your squad away from home, is a complete no-brainer for a portable console.

As if that weren't bad enough, the action on the pitch lacks any of the refinements FIFA has seen over the last three years. You're stuck with the old "pressing" technique for defending, which feels horribly dated compared to the more modern jockeying and containing system. There's no sign of the physics-based player impact engine, or the improved dribbling system either. Nor does the improved first touch system that made for a more realistic experience in the console version of FIFA 13 appear; the ball stays firmly glued to the feet of players, no matter how good or bad the pass is.

It was then that Aduriz realised he might actually be a fish.

Online modes see the same lack of improvements. Ranked and unranked matches are still available, with global leaderboards keeping track of your progress, while custom leagues let you challenge your friends to a spot of ranked competition. But there's no sign of the weekly match-day updates for teams, or modes like Head to Head Seasons and Online Friendlies. The oh-so-addictive skill game challenges of the console version of FIFA 13 are completely absent too, so you're stuck with the player-vs.-keeper loading screens of old.

The Vita-specific features--the touch controls--remain the same, which means they're just as painful to use as before. You can tap on a player to pass to him, with longer taps adding more power to the pass, or tap on a player to switch to him when you're defending. It works, but taking your hands off the sticks and face buttons to press the touch screen is awkward and ultimately slower than just using the buttons. It's also far too easy to trigger the touch screen by mistake, leading to a bunch of frustrating, accidental passes. And the less said about the rear touch pad the better. While you can use it to shoot, with the rear surface representing the face of the goal, it's triggered far too easily, and even if you do choose to use it, it's fiddly, so once again it's much better to just use the buttons.

The lack of improvements doesn't mean that there isn't any fun to be had with FIFA 13 on the Vita. The standard pad controls are tight, and the action is quick and fluid. Knocking in those spectacular-looking goals as players tussle for the ball is still a mighty exciting experience, and the ease with which you can create chances from crosses, runs, and even hit-and-hope volleys is a testament to how well the aging FIFA 11 engine, which the game is based on, is holding up.

Outlandish goal celebrations are par for the course in FIFA 13.

But that's all in last year's FIFA Football. Calling this a new game and charging a sizeable amount of money for it is completely unjustified--this is a kit pack and nothing more. You're much better off saving your cash and picking up an older, cheaper copy of FIFA Football and downloading a roster update. This is FIFA 13 by name only and a kick in the teeth to fans, eager for some something new, who picked up last year's version.

hello guys do any one can answer me : why there is a big brightness problem with the FIFA 2012 and 2013 on PS VITA ??? .do any one get attention how its dark !!! and the limit of the brightness level is 80% always !!!! and you can" t increase it ! and if you want can see yourself on the screen if you have no mirror :) ... and i don't know at least why it's not optional if it's good for the others ,some people said that's from the game settings problem ..and others say that's from the vita machine ..but i don't think so cause the other game the brightness is fine..if any one has a professional or local ..i 'm gonna appreciate to read it as soon as possible..thanx

geez. here i thought i wont get Fifa football i'll wait until fifa13 so they can work out the bugs and be released the same day as console. well i wont now. guess ill wait and see how next years goes. btw strange EA has done this with Madden and now FIfa eg not at the same level as the same game on console's. but most wanted looks the same and is the same product

This being the first FIFA game I've ever bought, I have to say I love it. I guess I could have saved money buying last years for the same experience. I would give this an 8.5, since I have nothing to compare it to.

I like the score and the review, but I don't think that the game should receive such a penalty for being recycled. Other games don't. It's a solid game of football on a handheld, despite being shamelessly copy-pasted from the last year. So it should've been 7.0 or at least 6.5

When are people going to learn that WE have all of the control. Reviews like this would never be written if people actually stood up and stopped letting companies like EA get away with this kind of scam consistently. You don't even have to move to do it. As a matter of fact, it is so simple to fight this kind of anti-consumer behavior, that all you have to do is absolutely anything else.

Wash you car. Watch a movie. Have intercourse with your lovely husband or wife. Do your taxes. Take a nap. Make a sandwich. Literally anything you want, as long as you stop buying EA Sport games, or any game or product that you don't want to support. You see, this is all very simple. We, the consumer, have all of the control. If we are tired of EA using manipulative Online Passes, or intrusive DRM, or manipulative subscriptions, or manipulative DLC, or manipulative micro transactions, all you have to do is stop buying their products.

When we do that, and EA stops making any money, they will understand that the people will not settle for an inferior product, nor we will tolerate being manipulated. See how easy this is? Stop buying Madden. Stop buying Fifa, stop giving your money to Bank of America, stop investing in Wall Street, stop buying gas. Stop supporting greed, and the greed will go away. A virus only lives for as long as it has something to attach itself to. If we detach ourselves from their greed, it will die.

I have the old FIFA for the Vita and I loved it! I was actually lucky enough to find a used version of FIFA 13 at my local gamestop. I bought it to see if it truly was the same game but with the 13 appended to the title. And yup! it is the same game but with minor tweaks and roster updates, so i returned my used copy of FIFA 13 and got FIFA 13 for my PS3. That game is awesome!

The score is fair but I wish that they would let Walton and Petit go for goodness sake. I really don't think that they get games at all. He still is talking about the Vita like it shouldn't have a touch screen that is responsive. Any touchscreen device that we own especially phones suffer from this sort of thing. You can be backed right out of a touch screen game at any moment and THEIR IS NO CRITICISM LEVELED AT THESE IPHONE APPS PRIMARILY. This reviewer still does not understand the technology that is in his hands and has trouble moving on. The WII U tablet though not as versatile as the Vita if you play without the TV Screen will be levied no such complaints I can guarantee it because NINTENDO is the god of gaming. You need to grow up and accept tech. I have a great phone that can replicate shooting basketballs in a hoop very well almost intuitively and it is addictive and great. But i would never play Fifa on a phone or NBA 2K13 no matter how good they look because the games take finesse. Yet, if a device has a touch screen NOTHING IS SHOEHORNED ONTO THE TOUCHSCREEN INTO A GAME ON A DEVICE THAT HAS A TOUCH SCREEN. If you don't use the touch screen that is fine but if someone does accept it and move on this is the norm and the combo of having face buttons and touch is the IDEAL setup for where we are currently and in the near future for gaming. Plus you have a multi-touch screen on a dedicated gaming device. The next dedicated gaming device would not even have this feature. If you have played Sound Shapes you can produce chords right off the multi- touch screen and do all sorts of cool things with sound if you have an editor on your PC and hook your Vita up via the head phone to line in on the PC. You see the Vita is an awesome piece of tech that excels by having a touch screen too. YOU may not like it but some people don't care at all.

It has proven that Fifa 13 on the Vita is merely Fifa Football with a roster update, same that EA did with the Wii version which is just Fifa 12 with a roster update and nothing more. Still I pity the misinformed people who pays 40 bucks for it without knowing. As long as there is those people EA will keep robbing their money.

@painpas Why would anyone want a touch screen that <i>isn't</I> responsive? The VITA touch screen is fantastic, as is the rear touch pad. That doesn't necessarily mean a game uses it in the right way, though; case in point, FIFA 13 on the VITA. And there's criticism levelled at any touch screen game--3DS, iPhone, VITA, or otherwise--that doesn't use the technology well.

no we're not. we are disapointed but ultimately happy that we don't need to waste our money on a vita and fifa 13 for it. Liberation looks like it will be the same, half a ss ed and so does black ops declassified(not that i care for that one)

the funny thing is they want a larger install base so they can make a good game, but to get a good install base you need to make great games now. There is nothing coming this fall that will be a system seller for vita. Street fighter x tekken? Why? it's a shame, the device has promise. I wanted a fifa 13 that would link with my ps3 and pro etc, but the even stripped that down in console version because of cheaters. We get a lazy evolution of fifa 11 called 13 on vita and really not much connected or exciting about it. If you want to know how bad it was, i looked through both manual's fifa football and fifa 13 they are the excat same, with just templating changes.

Unnacceptable. Sony and EA should no better, they make a lazy port and they will get what they both deserve poor sales. I will keep my money for another year on vita.

@Gelugon_baat If you read the review his criticizes touch screen "VITA" touchscreen usage in particular. We have to come to terms that this device has a touch screen and developers are going to use the functions of the device. Complaining about touchscreen usage is irrelevant at this point because we know that developers are going to use what is available to them and what their play testers must have deemed intuitive. I am no EA lover when the just update the roster and nothing more. Still as many other reviews have stated it is still the best portable soccer or football game on the market hands down. If you did not get last years version and like the sport or game and want to play on the go this is the best option. What I just noted will never be stated in a Gamespot review these days. Why? Who knows? One thing is for sure just like MLB the show if you want these games portable you will not find anything better for portable systems that is without a doubt.

@Serious Don't know man, I enjoy those too. But I do have a smartphone that I carry around anyways and I really expected the Vita to do more than that. Other than diddling a little with sound shapes and maybe buying LBP later on (just finished 2 and need a break from the fuzzy wuzzy) but really I don't see a difference between me owning a vita from launch than me owning it in the future when I find out Liberation or the Killzone title are awesome.

@burgeg Tried that when i got the vita. only good things were really short (Mutant blobs and such). What's up with the snippy remarks, are you Kevin Butler or something? I believe Im allowed to have a thought without sex in the city sarcasm, Jesus.